Remember the
Exodus 202:8-10
(NKJV)
I have a very good friend who happens to be Jewish who, just short of
lighting her candles for Shabbos found herself hot under the collar about some
offense to a friend. My immediate response to her was “ooooh, shalom, sweet
girl, peace. Let your heart not be troubled. Leave it to Him. Gut Shabbos,
love.” She couldn’t let it go, though, and then peace came to me in these
words…” Surrender to Sabbath; leave foolishness to fools.”
I’ve learned a good deal since embracing a surrender to Sabbath. Most of
it is not about what I do, or choose not to do. My learning is larger. It’s
about changing my mindset. In surrendering to Sabbath, I am drawing away,
drawing nigh, leaving behind.
I do not light candles and separate entirely from my daily routine. I do
however engage in deliberate restfulness, intentionally honoring sacred and
traditional obligations to marriage and my family. To a greater extent than in
the week, I seek feedback about what to cook, how we’ll spend the day, making
plans for the week to ensure more peace, less chaos. My emerging Sabbath practice is not intended
to constrain but rather to free my observation of it from the rigors of the
mundane. Sabbath is an exercise in
gratitude, an active practice of worship through rest. I am free to be alone
with my thoughts, released from habits and schedules that dominate my week. I
am free to spend time with those I love, free to study, released to worship. I
take permission to seek His Face, leaving foolishness aside.
So, having wound down my week, I offer the traditional blessings to
welcome the Sabbath. See you next week.
Blessed
are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the
light of the Holy Shabbat.
Blessed
art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hath hallowed us by Thy
commandments and hast taken pleasure in us, and in love and favor hast given us
Thy holy Sabbath as an inheritance, a memorial of the creation--that day being
also the first day of the holy convocations, in remembrance of the departure
from Egypt. For Thou hast chosen us and hallowed us above all nations, and in
love and favor hast given us Thy holy Sabbath as an inheritance. Blessed art
Thou, O Lord, who hallowest the Sabbath.
